EDGEWATER, Fla. – Cellphone video shared with News 6 appears to capture a confrontation involving Edgewater Mayor Diezel Depew and a supporter of another candidate in the Edgewater mayoral race.
New Smyrna Beach police reports say the incident took place at the New Smyrna Beach Public Library amid a disagreement over where campaign signs had been placed.
News 6 received two police reports connected to the campaign sign dispute.
In the first report, an officer wrote that he observed a campaign sign held by Depew come close to a person’s face, though he could not determine whether the sign actually touched the person’s body.
A second report, submitted the next day by another officer, says the person involved alleged she was hit by the sign after Depew put it into the ground and pushed it against her body.
Depew gave News 6 cellphone footage that he said shows the moments before the encounter unfolded.
The Edgewater mayor rejected the accusation that the episode reflects who he is, saying he believes the claims are politically driven.
“The residents know that this is not my character,” Depew said. “I’ve fought for them for the past four years.”
Depew also said he believes residents should not get caught up in what he described as political attacks.
The person involved in the incident and the candidate she was supporting were contacted by News 6 for comment. Neither had responded at the time of publication.
Depew is currently running for reelection as Edgewater’s mayor. He has served as mayor for more than three years and was elected at age 18, making him the youngest elected official in Florida at the time.
As of Tuesday, Depew has not been officially charged in connection with the incident, according to New Smyrna Beach police.
Police said the case is being forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for review. News 6 confirmed the office will further review the case.
News 6 will continue to follow the case as it moves forward.
